INDECOM gets millions

THE RECENTLY established Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has been given an $86.4-million budget to carry out its day-to-day activities for this fiscal year.

INDECOM has been mandated to probe all allegations of abuse and other potentially criminal acts by members of the security forces, including fatal shootings.

With the establishment of INDECOM, the police Bureau of Special Investigations - which investigates fatal police shootings - has been made almost redundant and the majority of the budget ($63.8 million) for the new body is taken from that unit.

The rest of the money for INDECOM ($22.6 million) is taken from the Ministry of Justice, which had oversight responsibility for the now defunct Police Public Complaints Authority.

The Terrence Williams-led INDECOM started operations in August and is now in the middle of several high-profile investigations.